CrossFit wall clock or TV: which suits your gym
The wall clock is the classic in any box. But if your room already has a TV, it can do the same job and quite a bit more. An honest comparison, with real prices.
What each option costs
Basic wall clocks sell on Amazon from about €45 to €75. Box-grade models with a remote and big digits are around €340 or more. And each room needs its own.
With a TV, you already own the hardware. If it has no browser, a Fire TV Stick costs about €35. The cost is the plan: Groups for one coach (€59.99 a year) or Studio for the whole gym (€24.99 a month with 3 coaches).
Point by point
| Wall clock | TV with HIIT Timer | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | €45 to over €340 per room | €0 if the TV has a browser (or about €35) |
| What it shows | Time and, on some, rounds | Time, round, the phase in colour, what's next and the circuit's stations |
| How you program it | Remote or buttons, one interval at a time | Sessions in blocks from your phone (Tabata, EMOM, AMRAP, circuits, ladders) |
| Students' phones | No | Yes, to the same second, in the app or the browser |
| Several screens | One clock per room | As many TVs and tablets as you like, synced |
| Without internet | Always works | Needs a connection to start; keeps counting if it drops |
| Payment | Once | Subscription (or Groups forever for €149.99) |
When a wall clock is the better fit
If the room has no TV and no place for one, if the connection is poor, or if you only run simple intervals and want no subscription, a wall clock is the simple choice.
When the TV is the better fit
If there's already a TV in the room, if you program classes in blocks or station circuits, if you have several coaches or rooms, or if you want students to see the timer on their phones. You also drop the whiteboard: what's next is already on screen.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use both?
Yes. Many gyms keep the wall clock and add the TV for block classes and circuits.
Is it readable from far away?
The room screen is built to be read from 10 metres: big digits and one colour per phase.
What if the internet drops mid-class?
Every screen keeps counting on its own and resyncs when the connection is back.